Prince William and Princess of Wales photographer shares how he captures their iconic family pictures.
The Prince and Princess of Wales are regarded for their iconic household portraits. From the candy shot of William, Kate and their youngsters sitting in a meadow of daisies, to the traditional black and white studio offering, the pix current a healthful household thinking to the world. And now, the photographer in the back of the loved snaps has shared how he takes the best shot — and is sharing his pinnacle hints to budding creatives, too.
Joshua Shinner, who used to be additionally at the back of the Wales' 2025 Christmas card photo, spoke to The Telegraph about his methods. He explained: "It can experience like a rigmarole to take a household picture, so human beings rush and they seem to be bad."
However, "that's no longer to say it desires to be complicated," he continued, adding: "Some of my favored photographs are the most informal. You're making an attempt to seize a moment. If it is a Christmas Day to appear returned on, that is perfect, you do not want all the equipment and knowledge."
In addition to the relax vibes, Shinner says shooting the picture would not want to take all day, either. He says it is about growing the most comfortable ecosystem so the humans in the front of the digital camera can be themselves. "If you can make human beings sense at ease, they can open up, which creates a higher picture."
Regardless of whether or not you are royal or not, Shinner provides that when you are photographing your very own family, you have the largest feasible gain in that you recognize these people. So his pinnacle tip? Make it comfortable. "Don't do it 10 minutes earlier than Christmas dinner; do not take hours over it."
The subsequent seasoned photographer tip is that solely a few digital camera angles will work. One of which is the use of special degrees to role every man or woman — assume Kate and William's pic this year, with Prince George in the forefront, Kate sitting in addition lower back and higher, and William barely in the front and lower. Then, Princess Charlotte on an angle, cuddling her dad, whilst Prince Louis sits between his legs.
Shinner's closing piece of advice? "When all and sundry thinks you have finished, take one more," which is how you regularly get the most herbal photo. He concludes: "Maybe anybody lets their face slip, and you get that real moment. I regularly take one or two frames after I've ‘finished,' simply due to the fact human beings — even if they do not suppose they are — are keeping themselves barely differently, and that turns out to be everyone's favored picture."
Joshua Shinner, a photographer who has worked with Prince William and Kate Middleton on several recent family portraits—including their 2023 and 2025 Christmas cards—recently shared insights into his approach to capturing their iconic images.
In interviews around late 2025, Shinner emphasized creating a relaxed, comfortable atmosphere to allow natural moments to emerge. He advised against rushing family photos, noting that hurried shots often look stiff, and instead recommended taking time so subjects can “be themselves.” For group compositions, he draws from classic techniques: using varying heights and levels (e.g., some standing, others sitting or positioned higher/lower) to make faces closer together and more dynamic, as seen in the Wales family’s coordinated portraits.
Additional tips from Shinner include:
- Using natural light, ideally near a large window (north- or east-facing for even illumination), and avoiding harsh overhead spots.
- Loosely coordinating outfits for cohesion without rigidity.
- Relaxing hands to avoid awkward poses.
- Taking multiple shots to catch genuine expressions, since someone might blink or look away.
He highlighted that knowing your subjects well—like family members do—helps immensely in making sessions feel easy and fun, leading to more authentic results. These methods contributed to the wholesome, informal vibe in the royal family’s recent releases, such as their daffodil-field Christmas card from April 2025.
Tags: Queen, Prince Charles, Camilla, Prince Louis, Prince William and Kate Middleton, Prince Charles, Prince Harry, Meghan, Lilibet
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